Machine for making paper boxes.



No. 645,950. Patented Mar; 27,1900. 0. w. GAY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAP ER BUXES.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.) (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet l.

I r l l l I I ms Noam: PETERS 0a.. PHUm-Lrmo" WASHINGTON. n. c.

0. w. GAY.

Patent ed Mar. 27, I900.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER BOXES.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.)

No. 645,950. Patented Mar. 27, won. T 1:. w. GAY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER BOXES.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.) (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

THE uonms PETERS cc.. PHQDTOLH'HO wnsumuwou, u. c.

No. 645,950. Patented Mar. 27, I900.

C. W. GAY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER BOXES.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.) Modem l4 SheetsSheet 4.

No. 645,950. Patented Mar. 27, I900. C. W. GAY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER BOXES.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.) M l.) l4 Sheets-Sheet 5.

mt uanms Pmna $0.. PHcrro-uma, WASHINGTON. D. c.

NO. 6419504 Patented Mar. 27, 1900. C. W. GAY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER BOXES.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.) (No Model.) l4 sheetsSheet 6.

No. 645,950. Patented Mar. 27, I900.

c. w. GAY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER BOXES.

(Application filed my 2, 1899. (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet 7.

m: Noam: FETERS m. mowumm wumuavon. n. c.

No. 645,950. Patentad Mar. 27, I900.

' 8. W. GAY.

MAGHINE FOR MAKING PAPER BOXES.

(Application filed. May 2, 1899.) (No Model.) I4 Sheets-Sheet 8.

No. 645,950. Patented Mar. 27, I900. C. W. GAY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER BOXES.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.! (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet 9 a No. 645,950. Patented Mar. 27, I900.

C W. GAY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER BOXES.

I (Application filed May 2, 1899.) (No Model.) l4 sheets-Sheet 40.

THE "dams PETERS zn, PHU'TOYLITHQ. WASHINGTON, 0. c,

No. 645,950; Patented Mar. 27, I900.

c. w. GAY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER BOXES.

1. (Application filed May 2, 1899.) (No Model.) l4 Sheets-sheaf IL No. 645,950. Patented Mar. 27, I900. C. W. GAY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER BOXES.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.) (No Model.) l4 Sheets8heet I2.

m $1115 ,4 v 76 J9 No. 645,950. Patented Mai. 27, I900.

c. w.. GAY. MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER BOXES.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.) (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Shea? l3.

1k: NORRIS mus co.. momma, vusmno'romuc MACHINE FOR-MAKING PAPER BOXES.

Patented Mar. 27, I900. GAY.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.) (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet l4.

U ITED STATES" PAT NT OFFICE.

CHAUNCEY W. GAY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING PAPER BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part' of Letters Patent No. 645,950, dated March 2"), 1900.

Application filed May 2,1899. Serial No. 715,330. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHAUNCEY W. GAY, acitizen of the United States of America, and a resident of West Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Scoring Blanks and Making Paper Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to machinery designed for the rapid and economical manufacture of paper boxes of various sizes within a wide range of dimension and of a strong and durable kind, the production thereof being, moreover, with a minimum of waste stock.

The description of box which is madeon this machine is formed from a portion of card or straw board or other suitable paper-box material having four sections constituting the four sides of the box, a side stay flap or section for uniting two of the sides where they meet at one vertical corner of the box, and four flaps or stay-sections by means of which the box sides are united by sticking to the box-bottom, which is constituted by a separate blank, or in some cases the bottom may be composed of separate double-bottom blanks.

The machine as I have devised and constructed it is capable ofautomatically performing all the operations of making surfacecovered paper boxes or paper-box covers from a suitably-supplied heavy paper, card or straw board, and a suitable covering or surface-finishingpaper; but certain of the mechanisms or appliances may be omitted or portions of the compound machineshown may be employed for useful results independently of other portions of the machineas, for instance, the covering or the blank-making mechanism may be used without being in combination with a boxmaking machine, the blanks so formed being made into boxes by hand or by machinery, as elected, or the. blank-formin g mechanism may be used in conjunction with other boxmak'ingmechanism than that herein described, and again the box-making mechanism may be used for makingboxes from the blanks 0f the kind herein described when introduced thereinto by hand or by any suitable automatic feeding mechanism.

In the operation of the entire machine card or straw board to constitute the four sides of a the box, the side stay-section, and the four bottom stay-sections is suppliedin a roll mounted on suitable bearings, and a roll of covering-paper is also supplied. The comparatively-thick body material of strawboard and the covering or surface-finishing paper as theyrun are pasted and united facewise,

the one on the other, and the edge portions of the coveringpaper are turned around and overlapped on the opposite side of the body- .board. The continuously-running thick nesses are in their forward course of movement longitudinally scored, as herein termed, but without the removal of any of the thickness of the stock, as required, to provide that the portion from which the stay-sections or flaps for the bottom are constituted may be turned on the proper lines angularly to the portions which constitute the four sides of the box. The strip is then further scored transversely on the lines corresponding to the corners of the box, and the edge portion of the strip, beyond the longitudinal score, has angular sections thereof removed or is mitered to permit the stay-sections or flaps for the bottom to be bent in the final making of the box 'angularly to the angularly-disposed sides without overlapping each other. The staysections are surfaced with paste as the strip is in transit to the box-forming mechanism, which is in part constituted by a peculiarlymounted plunger, around the sides of which the strip is to be wrapped, and when brought to place properly relatively to the former the covered strip scored longitudinally and transversely, corner cut or mitered and pasted, is out crosswise from the portion of the strip next behind. The section or blank of strawboard or other material from which the bottom is to be formed is fed into place at the turned-up bottom of the plunger. The operation of wrapping the strip around the former is next performed in part bya peculiarly bodily motion given to the former, and in part by side-section turners and a side stay sectionturning device coacting therewith. Y The bottom flaps or stay-sections of the main blank brought at right angles to the sides of the boxthat is, against and overlapped on the marginal portions of the boxbottom of the former-are by pressure stuck and set, and the former about which the box has been made having been next returned to its original position the completed box is stripped or caused to be shed from the former, into relation with which latter newly-fed strips or blanks are again brought for repetitions of the box-making operations.

The invention consists in the combinations of mechanisms or instrumentalities, in the construction and combination of parts comprised in the individual mechanisms, and in a new method and means of making paper boxes, all substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and covered in and by the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the box-forming portion of the machine, part of the blank preparing and feeding mechanism being also shown. Fig. 1 isa horizontal cross-sectional view of the former, understood as having been brought into its vertical position and showing the blank which constitutes the box sides wrapped around it, the front-side turner and the stay-section turner and setting device being also shown. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the blank-preparing mechanism, a part of which is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a sectional view or diagram illustrating the successively-actin g transverse creasers or scorers and the severing mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the strip, showing the manner in which the same is mitered and longitudinally and transversely scored. Fig. 2 is a perspective and sectional View of a part of the blank on a larger scale. Fig. 2 is a view of deflecting-rolls for the blank. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the box-making machine with a portion of the strip feeding and preparing mechanism adjoining. Fig. 4.- is a side elevation of the mechanism for feeding, covering, scoring, and mitering the strip from which the blanks are cut in succession. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the box-making machinethat is, a view taken from the opposite side from Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view and elevation of parts beyond the plane of section, which is taken about on the line 6 6, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view and front elevation of one of the sets of transverse scorers and corner cutting or mitering mechanisms, of which in the machine there are several, adj ustably arranged in succession. Fig. 8 is a view as seen at the lefthand edge of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a perspective representation of the upper and movable portions of this mechanism, the component parts thereof being shown as separated. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the lower and normally-immovable portions of the mechanism, parts thereof being shown separated for clearer illustration. Fig. 11 is a crosssectional View vertically as taken on the line 11 11, Fig. '7, the portion of the blank or strip being transversely scored being indicated. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the gumming mechanisms for the blank. Fig. 13 is afront elevation of the longitudinal scoring device,

the blank being lengthwise scored being indicated in cross-section. Fig. 14 is a perspec tive view of the parts of the longitudinal scorer. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the mechanism which most intimately pertains to the box-forming operations. Fig. 16 is a perspective view of what I herein term an adj ustable table provided suitably relatively to the former and onto which the blank constituting the box sides is run. Figs. 17, 18, 19, and 20 are perspective and sectional views of portions of the mechanism comprising the grippers as herein termed, for seasonably holding both blanks against the former and of the releasing means which operate in conjunction therewith, all to be hereinafter more particularly described and referred to. Figs. 21 and 21 are perspective and detail views of part of the mechanism which coacts with the former in the setting of the stayed corner portion of the box. Fig. 22 is a perspective View of an adjustable fixture or appliance serving as a turner for the blank. Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the turning device for the front side section of the box-blank. Fig. 24 is a perspective View of the shovel-feed mechanism for automatically feeding the blanks which constitute the box-bottom into relation to the bottom of the former to be united with the bottom stay-sections of the box sides. Fig. 25 is a vertical cross-sectional View through said shovel-feed mechanism for the bottom blanks on line 25 25. Fig. 26 is a cross-sectional View on line 26 26. Fig. 27 is a sectional elevation of an attachment and mechanism for feeding from a continuous roll or supply and severing from such supplyasec- 0nd bottom also to the former. Fig. 28 is a perspective View of the severing-knife in said last-mentioned mechanism. Fig. 29 is aperspective View of a box and cover having, re-

spectively, single bottom and single top, as

produced on the present machine. Fig. 30is a perspective View of the box having double bottom as also capable of being produced on this machine.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.

The blank or strip from which the four sides of the paper box are constituted is illustrated in Fig. 2", the blank sufficient to con stitute such parts of the box being comprised between the transverse lines 30 and 30, 32 32 representing the sections which constitute the wider sides of the box, 33 33 the relatively-intermediate sections which constitute the narrower sides or ends of the box, and 34 represents the side stay-section, which is overlapped within the side section 32 farthest therefrom in the making of the blank into the box, as indicated in Fig. 15.

41 41 represent the portions of the blank to be gummed and which constitute the bottom stay-sectionsthat is, the parts of the blank which are ultimately turned angnlarly to the sides and by means of which the sides are joined to the bottom of the box.

ICC

35 35 represent the lines of transverse scoring, as herein termed, this scoring in the operation of the present machine consisting in creasing the blank in a step-like manner, as indicated in an exaggerated way in Fig. 2, and without the removal of any of the stock, as is often done by plow-scoring, and the blank has imparted thereto a continual longitudinal scoring 36 of similar step-like character.

37 indicates the miters or portions from which angular sections of the stock are removed.

Suitable framing having fitness to the purposes of constituting supports for the mech anism journal-bearings and their appliances are shown and indicated by the letters A A and will now be described.

B represents the supply-roll of strawboard, Inillboard, or other analogous appropriate material from which paper boxes are commonly made journaled at the right-hand end of the frame.

0 represents the supply-roll of covering and finishing paper or materialbelow the roll B.

a is a paste-box; 4.0, a paste-roll therein; 42, a pressure-roll between which and the paste-roll the paper B runs, receiving a coating of paste on its entire under side.

The covering-paper O is supplied usually wider than the strawboard B, and the strawboard and pasted cover-paper are together brought between and united by the pressurerolls 43 4:3, and thence pass through the overturning device D (which in itself is not a new device) for overturning the marginal portions of the covering-paper around the edges and overlapped on the marginal portions of the strawboard, as shown in Fig. 2.

The overturning device D, as more plainly seen in Fig. 2, consists in the horizontallyarranged plate having the overturning lips 4-:t 44, which are convergent in the line of travel of the material. The covered and edgelapped material thence passes between the pressure-rolls 45 45 for causing the overlapped portions of the covering-paper to adhere firmly to the strawboard constituting the body of the blank.

E indicates the longitudinal scoring appliance, the same being seen not only in Figs. 2 and 4:, but also in Figs. 13 and 14.

F F F F represent the duplicated mechanism for imparting the transverse scores and angular edgewise cutting or mitering to the blank, and G represents the mechanism for transversely severing the one prepared blank from that portion of the strip next behind it, the completed blank at the time of severing having been forwardly fed in relation to the former and box-making devices to be subject to the action thereof.

In Figs. 2 and 2 are illustrated rolls 6 t upper and lower, geared together, between which the strip from which the blank is produced passes for the purposeof deflecting the edgewise portion of the blank comprised in able degree of angularity to the portions of the strip constituting the side sections of the box, and whereby when the side sections are wrapped around the former J, hereinafter described, the stay-sections 41 will be inclined inwardly under or relatively to the bottom of the former in the manner shown in Fig. 18, so that when the former, after having been swung from its horizontal position into its vertical position and is moved down against the impact-bed, the said stay-sections inclined as mentioned, will be squeezed against the bot tom of the box, which has been brought to place next to the bottom of the former. The upper roll is formed with a bevel at its end, as shown at 75, while the other roll is constructed with the end flange, which is in the form of a frustum of a cone, as seen at i the space at t between these inclined circular faces of the roll being angular to the axes and peripheries of the rolls.

1) b represent the feed-rollers for positively imparting swiftly and periodically the forward feeding movements to the material to bring them subject to the aforementioned mechanisms, to be thereby acted upon.

H represents a mainshaft suitably driven by pulley or pulleys H through means of belt 46, said shaft, through gearing 4:7, driving the cam-shaft 48, on which several cams of the different motions are mounted. One of these cams 4:9 is primary to the stock-feeding mechanism and coacts with the cam-lever 50, to which there is also applied the retracting-spring 52. slot 51. This cam-lever has adjustably secured thereto, at a higher or loaver point suitably distant from its centerof swinging movement by the shouldered stud 51 and a binding-nut 51 the thrust-rod 53, which plays through the oscillating shoe mounted on the end of the stud-shaft 55, which shaft has loosely thereon the pinion and pawl-carrier 56. and 57, the rack-teeth 58 of the thrustrod meshing with the pinion, while the pawl 59 takes into the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 60, which, through its hub 62, is united to the comparatively-large sprocket-wheel 63, around which runs the sprocket-chain 64, said sprocket-chain also running around the sprocket-wheel 65, aflixed to the lower feedroll I). The swinging movement forwardly of the cam-lever 50, as positively caused by the cam 49 through the rack-and-pinion portions of the device 56 58, imparts a swinging of the pawl-carrier and a partial rotary motion of the ratchet-wheel and also of the therewithconnected sprocket-wheel, resulting in a multiplied rotary motion to the sprocket-wheel and a movement of the strip equal to the length of one complete blank, this length of Said cam-lever has the long feed being regulated by the adjustment of the thrust-rod nearer or farther from the center of the swinging movement of the cam-lever.

In practice the motion of the feed-rollers wardly with a consumption of comparativelysmall space of time and with such vigor as to have it subjected to the preparing operations aforementioned as imparted by its being drawn through the various rollers and scorers.

The longitudinal scorer E comprises upper and lower plates or bars 66 and 67, Figs. 13 and 14, the lower one being comprised as the transverse member of a stand to be supported on the opposite side rails or members 68 of the horizontal frame. The adjacent faces of the plates 66 and 67 are formed with the steps, as indicated at 69, and the two parts are so supported relatively to each other as to leave the space 70 approximately equal to the thickness of the blank between them, having the ofiset, as shown. The upper member has the two slots 72 therein and also at its one end the rib 73. The shanks of the screws 74 pass loosely through the slots and with a screw engagement into tapped holes therefor in the lower bar or plate 67. yoke or clamp 75 is by the binding-screw 76 confined on the lower horizontal member 67 of the longitudinal scorer and straddles over the top of the upper plate 66 and constitutes a guide or guard for the strip being fed toward the box-making mechanism.

In order that the two parts of the scorer may be adjusted toward and from each other,

so that the space between the two parts at the steps 69 69 may conform to the thickness of the stock being used, the adj usting-screw 77 screws through the lug 78 of the stationary member against the end of the bar 66.

The transverse scorers F, Figs. 7 to 11, are in substance dies comprising an immovable lower part and an upper part which is movable toward and away from the lower part, the said parts which come into proximity being comprised by hardened-steel plates or bars 79 and 80. The base of the scoring attachment F comprises the transverse bar 82, which forms the part of a casting having the depending clamp-lugs 83 83 to engage the support-bars 68 at the opposite sides of the machine=frame and the upstanding integral cheek-pieces 84 84 and also formed with the depression-seat 85 for the opposite upstanding cheeks 86, which are held in place by screws and which constitutejournal supports and guides. Each of these castings is so engaged with the side bars of the frame that they may be adjusted bodily and confined in various relations to each other, so that the scoring and mitering of the blanks may he comparatively close together for small boxes or much farther apart for larger boxes, and in conjunction with the clamp-lug 83 there is provided the clampplate 87 and confining-bolt 88,and through the opposite lug 83 is the set-screw 90.

92 represents a carrier-bar for the creasingdie member 79, the same being vertically adjustably secured thereon by the screws 93, which pass through the slot 94 in the plate The l with a screw engagement into the body of the support-bar. The support-bar has the overhanging ledge 95, through which thread the screws 97 97, the lower ends of which bear on the upper edge of the plate 79. By loosening the set-screws 93 and turning down the screws 97 the part 79 may be bodily adjusted to present its edge lower and in closer proximity to the step-shaped immovable die-plate 80, as may be required for comparatively-thin stock.

The springs 103, interposed between the ends of the carrier-bar 92 and of the lower immovable bar 82, normally maintain the upper movable die member clear and separated from the lower die member, with which it coacts.

Between the upper ends of the paired cheeks 84 86 are pivotally mounted the levers 104 and 105, each having at its lower end a roller 111, located adjacent to and in due time to bear on the top of the carrier-bar 92, moving the same forcibly downward against the stress of the retracting'springs 103.

The lever 105 has the operating-arm 106, with which is connected the link 107, which is also secured to the crank member or leverarm 108, affixed on the shaft 109, said shaft receiving a rocking reciprocatory movement through the connection with the lever-arm 110, ainxed thereto, of the thrust-rod 112, receivin g periodically its motion from the rotary cam 113, Fig. 6.

The links 114 connect the two oppositelyarranged levers 104 105 for each of the sets of scoring and mitering devices F, so that'when swinging motion is imparted to the one 105 through the leverage action of its arm 106 to bear downwardly the one end of the carrier 92 the opposite end of such bar will be similarly downwardly forced.

Although the downward movements of the carriers for all of the scorers F are imparted by the one rocking movement of the rockshaft 109, these movements are respectively in succession, one being slightly before another, for the reason that it is desirable that the paper may give or yield in its length to compensate for the step-shaped transverse crease imparted thereto and to avoid the necessity of the paper having to stretch between the cross -scorings or of being severed, as might ensue with the paper held simultaneously at different points and simultaneously creased or scored. It will therefore be pointed out, as indicated in Fig. 7, that the inclination of the link-connected levers 104 105 for one of the scorers is normally at a slightlydifierent angle from that of the next pair of corresponding levers, so that the downward movement imparted to one arm 106 will cause the adjoining or connected levers 104 105 to be brought into their straightened or vertical positions, acting in the manner of one member of a toggle before the forcing-levers for the next scorer come into action on the carrier-bar of the latter. The lower bar 82 has therein a triangular hole corresponding to the IIO V end of die-plate 80, and each upper carrierbar has a triangular mitering-die 99, secured by a set-screw. (See Figs. 7, 9, and 10.)

The blank or strip which has been scored and mitered and being fed forwardly into po-v sition relative to and subject to the action of p the box-forming mechanism has the front edge portions 41 41 thereof gummed on the upper side by being passed between the feedrollers b b, operated as hereinbefore described, the former having peripherally running on its end portion 115 the gum-carrying roller 117, which takes gum as supplied thereto from the roll 118, which runs partly immersed in the gum-box 119, suitably supported in such a way as to constitute no obstacle or impediment to the operations of the parts and the passage of the strip.

The mechanism for severing the blank transversely on the line 31 31, Fig. 2 corresponding to the rear edge of the side stay-section 34, (indicated at G,) resemblesin many respects the scoring attachment comprising a transverse bar or base 82, having depending lugs and clamping devices like those 83, before described, and also having the upstanding cheeks, between which is the blade or shear-bar 120, operated by the link-connected inclined levers 104 105*, through the rocking of the shaft 109, springs 103 being applied for retracting or elevating the shear-bar in good time after its descent for the positive transverse severing has been accomplished. The portion 123 of the strip next to the rear of the severing-line 31 31 and Which is comprised in the foremost side section of a given blank receives a transverse layer of gum of a width equal to the width of the side stay-section 34, this being advantageously performed simultaneously with the severing of the next blank in advance from the one to be so gummed, and to this end there is attached to the upstanding cheeks, within which the shear-baris movable, a standard or arch bearing 124 for the stem 125 of the gummer126, coacting with which latter when it is in its elevated position is the gum-carrying roll 127, mounted on the swinging reciprocatory sup port 128, having its movement imparted thereto by the connection with the lever-arm 129 thereof of the link-rod 130, (shown inFig. 12,) which is connected to the lever 129, to which motion is imparted for operating the gummer 126, hereinafter shortly to be described. This gumming motion, whereby the gum-carrying roll is caused to take the gum received thereupon from the roller 133, which runs in contact with the roller 134 in the gumbox 135, comprises in itself no novelty, being very common in envelop-making machines.

The gummer 126 is caused to move downwardly in unison with the shear or severing bar 120 by having connection therewith from the aforesaid rock-shaft 109, the same consisting in the rock-shaft 136, provided with the lever-arm 137, linked to the gummer-stem 125, said rock-shaft, furthermore, having the lever-arm 138, to which is connected the rod or link 139, which is secured to the lever-arm 140, radially extended from said rock-shaft 109.

The forward portion of the strip as scored or creased, mitered, gummed, and severed comprised in the blank for making the sides of the box is brought into position in relation to the box-forming mechanism, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6,.such mechanism being located in the line of feed beyond the blank forming and severing mechanisms described, and said boxforming mechanism will be now described.

J represents the former, of rectangular shape and of size corresponding to the given box to be made, the same having a height greater than the width of the blank.

0 represents the bottom of the former, the same in Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6 being shown as in its first position-that is, swung on its rocking support dso that its bottom 0 is located in a vertical plane and its rear side ein a horizontal plane.

6 represents the front face of the former,

f the end thereof nearer the blank making and feeding mechanism, and f the end which is the farther therefrom. Below the axis of rocking movement of the former coincident with the j ourn al-supports d is the impact-bed K, which is rigid and stationary, being bolted orotherwise constructed as a part of the framing of the machine.

The-former is mounted on the former-carrier L, at the opposite ends of which are the journal extensions or gudgeons d suitable boxes to constitute the aforementioned journal-bearings being provided.

The suitably-timed intermittent rocking reciprocatorymotion is imparted to the formercarrier by means of the cam and thrust-rod motion,illustrated as comprising the leverarm 142 on the extended journal at one end of the former-carrier, to which the link 143 is connected, said link, furthermore, being connected with the intermediately-pivoted lever 144, to which is also connected the link or connecting-rod 145, the lower end of which has connection with the cam-lever 146, coacting with which against the cam-roll 146 is the cam 147 on the cam-shaft 48.

The former J is sustained spring-supported on the former-carrier through means of the two bars or suitably-massive rods 150, extending perpendicularly in parallelism above or beyond the top of the former through holes 152 therefor in the former-carrier, the projecting upper ends of these bars being surrounded by the spiral supporting-springs 153, interposed between the shoulders 154 at the upper ends of said bars and the upper side of the former-carrier.

The location of the axis of rocking motion of the part L above the impact-bed is such that when said part L and the former are given in unison their quarter-revolution or quadrantal movement the bottom 0 of the former will assume a position slightly above the top of the impactbed, the downward movement of the former against the impactbed as further given thereto independently of and relatively to the former-carrier and against the supporting stress of the spring 153 for setting the bottom being hereinafter described and explained in conjunction with the means employed to that end.

The former is shown as detachably rigidly supported on the aforesaid bars 150, so that a former proper of another size may be quickly and easily substituted for rendering it possible in conjunction with other adjustments to make boxes of difierent sizes, and therefore it will be perceived with sufficient elearness, on reference to Figs. 1 and 15, that the said bars 150, instead of being directly formed as a part of or atfixed to the former proper, are formed as rigid extensions of the block or plate 155, having a rib and seat engagement with the top of the former proper, being firmly and strongly connected thereto by the bolt 156. For simplicity of description and brevity, however, the former will be herein referred to as if provided directly with and directly carried by the said bars 150, and the upper part of the former is equipped with a pair of perforations or parallel sockets 157, ranging in transverse lines perpendicular to its sides e e through which are passed the bars or substantial support-rods g g, the intermediate portions of the latter lying and having axial play within the sockets 157 therefor. The outer ends of the said bars g, protruding forwardly of or beyond the front face of the former, are shouldered, as indicated at 158, between which shoulders and the part of the former through which the bars play are interposed spiral springs 159 under compression. At the extremities of the said bars 9, which protrude at the opposite side of the former supported thereon rigidly and in a plane perpendicular to the length of said bars, is the gripper-support or gripper-carrier M, the plane in which the same is extended being adjacent and parallel with the rear side 6 of the former. This gripper-carrier M comprises sections 160, ranging opposite each other and located adjacent the ends of the former, and it is upon the inner edges of these sections 160 that the supplemental grippers h h have peculiar loosely-pivoted supports. When the former is in its upswung position shown in Fig. 6 for the reception under the then horizontal rear side e of the side-forming blank or between such side 6 and the grippers thereunder, the grippers are slightly but sufiiciently distant from the former, so as to constitute no obstacle to the disposition stated of the blank, and this bodily removal of the grippers when the former is in the upswung position is accomplished by the shouldered opposite end of the gripper-carryin g rods having come to abutment against the fixture or beam 162, whereby there is relatively a forcing action by the beam endwise on the rods 9 against the reaction of their springs. Each supplemental gripper h is comprised in a comparatively-thin though stiff and rigid plate or member having a support by the pin 163 and slot 164 on theinner edge of the grippercarrier section 162, the same at its outer end having the curved or angularly-extended gripperfinger 165, adapted to be brought against the end 0 of the former at the edge thereof adjoining the rear side 6. The gripper device 72 at its opposite end is formed with the angular member or lever-arm 166. The spring 167, mounted on the section 160 of the gripper-support adjacent the front end of the gripper device It, exerts an endwise forcing action on the said gripper, so that it is normally maintained with the end of the slot against the abutment screw or pin 163. The said gripper device h is formed with the offset 168 near its gripping-finger 165, and a stop or limiting pin 169 extends from the inner edge of the aforesaid supporting-section 160, so that the gripper may have no undue swinging motion in the direction toward the former.

It is to be understood that while the former is in the position (upswung) shown in Fig. 6 to receive thereunder the long blankw the separate blank 1 to constitute the bottom is fed down to overlie the then vertical bottom 0 of the former by what is known as a shovelfeed motion from a tier or supply gfiof these blanks suitably supported at the forward upper part of the machine. (See Figs. 6, 24, 25, and 26.)

The mechanism for feeding the bottomblanks y comprises a horizontal base-support 275, upstanding at the rear of which is the vertical wall or plate 276, the latter having its forward face about coincident with the bottom 0 of the former when the latter is swung bodily into the horizontal position shown in Fig. 6, and this front face of the wall or plate 276 is'slightly rearwardly beyond the edge of the horizontal support 275, on which the bottom-blanks edgewise rest, leaving the space 271, down through which the blanks y may be shoved one at a time. The bottom support 275 has the adjustable section 277, operated forwardly and rearwardly by the adjusting-screw 278, so that the unobstructed space 271 may be about as wide or slightly wider than one blank y, but

less than the width of two of the blanks, so

that but one at a time may be forced down.

279 279 represent opposite cheek-plates adjacent which the ends of the blanks have their dispositions and by which the blanks are guided.

280 represents the follower, for which 282 is the spring for exerting a rearward-forcing pressure on the follower to maintain the tier g of blanks with the rearmost one always against the inner face of the plate 276.

The plate 276 is centrally apertured, as seen at 283, having therein guideways 284 for the vertically-reciprocatory carrier 285 for the comparatively-thin blade or pusher-bar 286, 

